Lymphocyte subpopulations in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Lymphocyte subpopulations were determined in patients with confirmed multiple sclerosis using a new technique in which immunoglobulin bearing (lg⁺) cells are rosetted directly with purified anti-light chain antibody-coated human erythrocytes, while T cells are first sensitized with specific anti-human thymus antisera prepared in b⁴b⁴ rabbits, and then indirectly rosetted with purified anti-rabbit light chain allotype antibody-coated human erythrocytes. In 45 percent of the patients, there was a striking decrease in the percentage of T lymphocytes and a reciprocal elevation of lg⁺ and N cells. In another 20 percent, T cell depression was not accompanied by lg⁺ elevation. The remaining 35 percent had normal lymphocyte profiles as did all patients with nondemyelinating neurologic diseases. However, we found no significant correlation between the lymphocyte profiles and prospective clinical evaluation of these patients and no correlation between alterations in lymphocyte profile and the presence of neuroelectric blocking factors in the peripheral blood of multiple sclerosis patients.